Our society associates many things with the Christmas season. Christmas trees, lights, presents, family gatherings, food, Christmas cookies, house decorations, concerts, and ornaments are some of the traditions that make this a special time of year.
Hopefully, when you think about Christmas, you also think about the birth of Jesus. The Bible gives us many details about that event. Joseph, the conception, Herod, Bethlehem, shepherds, and wise men all played a part in ushering Jesus into our world.
All those details are important, but on Christmas day, we celebrate a specific day. The day Jesus was actually born. Out of the four New Testament books known as the gospels, only the Gospel According to Luke tells us about that specific day.
On this Christmas day, let’s remind ourselves what actually happened on that specific day, over 2,000 years ago, when Jesus, the Creator of the world, was born as both God and Man.
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Transcript:
Our society associates many things with the Christmas season. Christmas trees, lights, presents, family gatherings, food, Christmas cookies, house decorations, concerts, and ornaments are some of the traditions that make this a special time of year.
Hopefully, when you think about Christmas, you also think about the birth of Jesus. The Bible gives us many details about that event. Joseph, the conception, Herod, Bethlehem, shepherds, and wise men all played a part in ushering Jesus into our world.
All those details are important, but on Christmas day, we celebrate a specific day. The day Jesus was actually born. Out of the four New Testament books known as the gospels, only the Gospel According to Luke tells us about that specific day.
On this Christmas day, let’s remind ourselves what actually happened on that specific day, over 2,000 years ago, when Jesus, the Creator of the world, was born as both God and Man.
In the first chapter of his gospel, Luke wrote about the conception of both John the Baptist and Jesus. Then he gave us details about the birth and naming of John the Baptist.
In the first several verses of chapter 2 Luke explained that Joseph and Mary ended up in Bethlehem because of a census. Jospeh had to go to Bethlehem for the census because he was a descendant of David. The census took place while Mary was with child.
Luke 2:6 Now it happened that while they were there, the days were fulfilled for her to give birth.
Luke 2:7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guest room.
The traditional Christmas story says there was no room for them in the inn, implying they sought a room in something akin to a hotel. However, the greek word that is used in this verse was also used in Mark 14:14 and Luke 22:11. Those verses show that guest room is a better translation.
It is probably more accurate to picture Joseph and Mary staying with relatives, but there were so many relatives in town for the census that the guest room was full. Therefore, they slept in the room where the animals slept. When Jesus was born, Mary laid him in a manger.
Luke 2:8 ¶ In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.
Luke 2:9 And an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.
Luke 2:10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people.
Luke 2:11 For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
The angel announced that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior.
Luke 2:12 And this will be the sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Luke 2:13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
Luke 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
Imagine the most glorious choir singing you ever heard in your life. That probably pales in comparison to what the shepherds heard and experienced that night.
Luke 2:15 ¶ And it happened that when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”
Luke 2:16 So they went in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger.
Luke 2:17 And when they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.
The shepherds told others that the angel had identified Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior.
Luke 2:18 And all who heard it marveled at the things which were told them by the shepherds.
Luke 2:19 But Mary was treasuring all these things, pondering them in her heart.
When Gabriel told Mary she would bear a son, he told her Jesus would reign forever on the throne of David. Mary knew from conception that Jesus was special. The account from the shepherds confirmed her belief and Mary treasured the confirmation.
Luke 2:20 And the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as was told them.
Our society associates many things with the Christmas season such as food, gifts, and decorations. Hopefully, when you think about Christmas, you also think about the birth of Jesus. The Bible records many details surrounding the birth of Jesus, but only Luke tells us what actually happened on the specific day that Jesus was born.
After giving birth, Mary wrapped Jesus in cloths and laid Him in a manger. Then an angel appeared to some shepherds the same night and announced the birth. Jesus was identified as the Messiah who would be the Savior.
The shepherds found Jesus and proclaimed the truth they had learned about the identity of Jesus. Then they returned to the fields, glorifying and praising God.
Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus is the Savior of the world. As we celebrate Christmas Day, let’s not forget to praise and glorify God for coming to live among men so that He could be the Savior of the world.
“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”